Daming: Old Zhu, we agreed not to rush!

Chapter 115 What is corvee
Lao Zhu, who had beaten Zhu Xi, returned to Fengxian Hall and continued to deal with official duties.

To say that the emperor did what Zhu Yuanzhang did, he is really the only one.

Not to mention the inexhaustible energy, he has always been extremely keen on handling government affairs.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was looking at the memorial, had to stop because of the appearance of Gong Weilang.

"Your Majesty, a reply from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Gong Weilang handed the letter to the eunuch, and the eunuch handed it to Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Okay, you go down."

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand and sent Gong Weilang away.

He picked up the letter, and was also a little curious, didn't this letter be answered not long ago, why did it come again now.

Could it be that something happened?
With doubts, Zhu Yuanzhang finished reading the letter.

After reading it, his complexion was a little less pretty:

"What a waste, I can't even do this little thing well."

Lao Zhu really didn't expect that he just asked Gong Weilang to check the internal situation of the paper workshop, how could such a problem arise?
It's a shame to be caught by Su Jing on the spot!
Fortunately, their identities were not revealed, otherwise even if Zhu Biao interceded, Lao Zhu would not be able to spare them.

After scolding, Zhu Yuanzhang also calmed down.

With Su Jing's intelligence, it is normal for these Gongwei Lang to be discovered.

But, in this case, how to complete the bet with Queen Ma?

If he didn't ask someone to go in and take a look, Lao Zhu just didn't want to admit Su Shi's power.

After all, he still has a prejudice against Su Jing.

It's not good for Lao Zhu to mention this matter to Queen Ma, otherwise he will be laughed at.

How to do?
Lao Zhu was a little worried for a while.

In the Kunning Palace, Empress Ma was quite happy. In front of her, there were embroidery framed in glass frames one by one.

This is the use of glass that Zhu Biao wrote in his letter, and it is used to mount various things for viewing.

After Empress Ma found out, she asked someone to make a few frames, and then tried it.

Didn't expect this effect, it was quite good.

Looking at the framed embroidery, Empress Ma felt very relieved.

But thinking about these glasses being the raw material for making telescopes, I feel that it is a waste to do so.

It's a pity that Zhu Biao is not with Empress Ma, otherwise he would tell Empress Ma immediately and use it as he wants.

Su Jing's glass factory can start working again at any time.

Lishui County.

Life calmed down, and a month passed in a blink of an eye.

Autumn is more intense, and the temperature continues to drop.

The people all changed into autumn clothes, and there were more cotton clothes on the shelves of Su's Cloth Shop.

In Su Jing's other courtyard, the fallen leaves need to be cleaned every morning.

Naturally, it was impossible for Su Jing to do this. With Zhu Biao and Zhu Wei around, it was impossible for him as a teacher.

Another morning, Zhu Biao and Zhu Wei swept the fallen leaves in the courtyard, sat on the stone table in the courtyard and began to read.

Although what Su Jing teaches is modern knowledge, he does not reject ancient classics.

Su Jing didn't write much, so they usually read classic ancient books.

Most of Zhu Biao's books are history books, while Zhu Wei's is "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic".

Su Jing didn't know it at the beginning, but the ancients' research on mathematics had already been very profound.

When teaching Zhu Wei, he specially asked someone to find some ancient mathematics classics.

This "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" is a very good book. It not only contains fractions, but also involves the concept of negative numbers and the rules of addition and subtraction of negative numbers.

There are even "equations", which is simply beyond Su Jing's imagination.

When I first read this book, Su Jing was extremely shocked.

When he went to school in his previous life, he had learned the historical knowledge related to "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic", but it was only used as a test point, and he passed it after memorizing it.

Now, in the early Ming Dynasty, he found the original text of "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic", and compared them one by one.

This kind of feeling cannot be experienced in previous lives.

More importantly, "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" was written around the first century AD, that is, during the Han Dynasty.

It can only be said that the ancients in their own country did not know how many years those countries in the West were ahead.

Su Jing suddenly felt a sense of responsibility in her heart.

He immediately made "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" Zhu Huan's must-read extracurricular book.

Teach Zhu Su well and let him embark on the road of scientific research as soon as possible.

Daming Mendel?
No, Mendel will be the Austrian Niu Su in the future!

However, meals have to be eaten bite by bite, and things have to be completed step by step.

Su Jing came out of the bedroom and stretched.

"Master Su, breakfast is ready."

Zhu Biao immediately stood up and said to Su Jing.

Su Jing nodded and said: "Okay, I understand."

Then he looked up at the sky, and the sun rarely came out.

"It's good, it's finally not raining, and people all over the world are getting annoyed."

Su Jing sighed slightly.

This autumn rain really came as soon as it was said. Although it was not as violent as summer, it lasted really long.

Su Jing has not seen the sun for almost half a month, and it has been raining intermittently for half a month.

For Su Jing who does not have a mobile phone or the Internet, it is very painful to be forced to stay at home.

"Yeah, it's finally not raining."

Zhu Biao also said with emotion: "If this continues, I am afraid that the autumn flood will become a flood, and it will be the people who will suffer."

Ancient water conservancy measures were not as developed as modern ones, and droughts and floods are common occurrences.

Spring and autumn floods are even more common.

Continuous precipitation causes the water level of the river to rise, and if the dams cannot stop it, floods will occur.

When Su Jing heard this, she shook her head slightly and said, "Even if there is no flood, the people will suffer."

Ok?
Zhu Biao was taken aback, looked at Su Jing and said, "Master Su, what do you mean by that? Without floods, the people's farmland can produce food. How can it be so hard?"

It should be a good thing that the autumn floods did not rise into floods, but according to Su Jing, there seems to be no change.

Zhu Biao didn't understand, quite a bit.

Su Jing was not in a hurry to answer, first quickly wiped out the breakfast, and then said: "Niu Yi, what do you think the people hate the most?"

What people hate the most?
Zhu Biao was stunned for a moment, then replied: "Wars and natural disasters?"

Su Jing's face twitched slightly, Zhu Biao's answer could not be wrong, but it was not what he wanted.

Boot failed!

Su Jing could only add: "What if there is no war or natural disaster?"

The question is not accurate, so I can only patch it myself.

No wars and natural disasters?
Zhu Biao couldn't think of it for a while, but Su Jing didn't rush him, so he thought about it slowly for a while.

"Corrupt officials."

After holding back for a long time, Zhu Biao gave another answer.

Su Jing took a deep breath and said: "Corrupt officials are certainly hateful, but after all, they are violations of the law, and the retribution is not good. As long as they are caught, the people will still applaud."

"But there is one thing that has always existed and never disappeared. It has been included in the law in all dynasties, but it still makes the people extremely hate it."

Listening to Su Jing's words, Zhu Biao was really down.

what is this?

The people hate it, but it has always been within the law.

Zhu Biao thought about it for a long time, but he didn't expect it, so he could only ask Su Shi: "Please ask Master Su to point it out."

Su Jing nodded slightly, and only said two words: "Corvée."

corvee!

Hearing this, Zhu Biao was stunned immediately.

But after a while, he turned to Su Jing and said: "Master Su, corvee has existed since ancient times, whether it is military service or miscellaneous service. If there is no corvee, the country cannot exist!"

In a country, there are always people who want to serve as soldiers, otherwise how to resist foreign enemies?

Some public works cannot be completed without corvee.

In Zhu Biao's view, corvée is a matter of course, and it must be hard, but it is also for the people to live better.

Su Jing looked at Zhu Biao, and was not too surprised by Zhu Biao's answer.

After all, corvée has been recorded in the Zhou Dynasty, and then the feudal dynasty appeared, and it has not been cut off until the present Qin Dynasty.

If a system can continue from ancient times to the present, it must be irreplaceable.

As a person of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Biao has such a cognition, which is also a matter of course.

Su Jing said lightly: "What you said is correct, but what does it have to do with what I said? Could it be that people can't hate it because it is important?"

Su Jing's rhetorical question was simple and direct, which directly confused Zhu Biao.

That's right, corvee is very important to the rulers of the feudal dynasty, so it has always existed, even if the dynasty changes, this one will continue.

But this has nothing to do with corvee being hated by the people.

Zhu Biao opened his mouth and wanted to continue to refute, and wanted to answer from the point of view that the people did not hate so much.

But he happened to have the history books of the Qin and Han Dynasties in his hand. Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty, delayed the construction period because of leading people to serve in corvee, and directly revolted in order to survive.

The people who can be directly forced to revolt, how can it be said that the people don't hate it?

"Master Su is right, the common people really hate corvee."

Zhu Biao replied, but he was obviously in a sluggish state.

Corvée is not good, but it cannot be without it.

Zhu Biao just felt that he couldn't handle this matter at all.

Su Jing looked at Zhu Biao, and probably could guess what she was thinking as a student.

Worrying about the people all day long, but not being able to solve the real problems, naturally it is extremely uncomfortable.

"Niu Yi, come on, come out with me."

Su Jing said to Zhu Biao, and did not forget to say to Zhu Biao: "Niu Su, you should read a book at home first."

"Yes, Master Su." X2
Zhu Biao and Zhu Huan nodded, and each followed Su Jing's instructions.

After leaving the house, Su Jing took Zhu Biao and ran straight to the river.

It wasn't too far away, and after about a stick of incense, the two of them arrived at the embankment.

Although it was morning at this time, there were already many people.

They are all nearby farmers who were recruited to strengthen the embankment.

They used their own shoulder poles and pick baskets to transport pieces of soil and gravel, and they kept going back and forth.

On the side, there are officers and soldiers supervising them.

"What do you see."

Su Jing and Zhu Biao were standing not far from the embankment, Su Jing asked.

Zhu Biao replied truthfully: "The people are serving to strengthen the embankment."

Su Jing asked again: "Then look at the tools in their hands, where did they come from?"

"Naturally it comes with it."

Zhu Biao immediately replied that there is no need to think about it, because the tools of these common people are of various colors and there is no uniform standard.

"it is good!"

Su Jing nodded and said: "Then continue to watch here."

Su Jing didn't explain anything, just let Zhu Biao watch here.

Zhu Biao nodded, and Su Jing asked him to watch, so he continued to watch.

The people who served did not stop at all, they transported the soil and gravel one after another.

Because once you stop, you will be beaten and scolded.

Even if it is slow, it is still hard to escape the eyes of the supervisor.

Zhu Biao looked a little uncomfortable, he had never seen such a scene of service.

Time passed slowly, and the sun slowly rose.

It was noon in a blink of an eye.

"Okay, you can stop now, and continue in half an hour."

The overseer yelled at the civilians who were serving, and then left on his own.

It's time for lunch.

Su Jing and Zhu Biao in the distance were still watching, watching the civilians taking out dry food from their arms and eating it on the spot.

If you are thirsty, go to the river to fish some to deal with.

"Niu Yi, where do you think their dry food comes from?"

Su Jing asked Zhu Biao again at this time.

Zhu Biao replied with a sullen face, "Bring your own."

"So, are they paid?"

Su Jing said flatly.

"No."

Zhu Biao shook his head.

"So, do you understand now why the common people hate corvee?"

Su Jing said lightly.

Facts speak louder than words. The corvee labor in the early Ming Dynasty was relatively easy.

Although the supervisors of the officers and soldiers were strict, they were not to the point of direct ruthlessness.

There was also half an hour to rest for lunch.

But let Zhu Biao see it this way, he feels that corvee is really nothing!

Most of these people are farmers, and it has been raining before, so it is not easy to do farm work.

Now the weather is getting better, but because the corvee came to strengthen the embankment.

Not only that, but also bring your own tools and dry food.

Free labor takes up time for farm work, and they are beaten, scolded and supervised.

This is corvée!
(End of this chapter)